Nine men accused of historical sexual offences connected with an alleged group-based child sexual exploitation ring in South Wales have appeared at Cardiff Crown Court, with a trial provisionally set for January 2028.
The allegations relate to eight women who say they were sexually abused as children between 1985 and 1996.
The defendants, aged between 54 and 76, were arrested at locations across the UK in July following a long-running investigation by Gwent Police, known as Operation Oak.
Several defendants entered not guilty pleas during Friday’s hearing, while three did not enter pleas.
All nine were released on conditional bail.
Two Scottish defendants deny charges
Mohammed Sheikh Abdul Hannan, 54, of Edinburgh, who self-defined his ethnicity as British Bangladeshi, pleaded not guilty to charges including indecent assault, two counts of rape, three counts of aiding and abetting rape and conspiracy to rape.
Kevin Lawrence, 54, of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, who self-defined his ethnicity as white European, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to rape and causing prostitution.
Four other defendants enter not guilty pleas
Shafaq Mohammed, 58, of Birmingham, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Pakistani, denied multiple allegations including rape, aiding and abetting rape and offences linked to child prostitution.
Syed Mohammad Ashan Taqvi, 65, of Newport, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Pakistani, pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape.
Aminur Rahman Choudhury, 58, of Tottenham, London, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Bangladeshi, denied one count of rape.
Murad Ali, 57, of Swansea, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Pakistani, pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape.
Three men yet to enter pleas
Three other defendants did not enter pleas during Friday’s hearing.
Sheikh Mohammed Tahir Ullah, 73, of Newport, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Bangladeshi, has previously been charged with rape of a female aged 16 or over and rape of a female under 16.
Mohammed Ramzan, 76, of Newport, who self-defined his ethnicity as Asian Pakistani, has previously been charged with seven offences, including two counts of rape of a female under 16, three counts of indecent assault, causing the prostitution of a girl under 16 and conspiracy to rape a girl under 16.
Shakeel Babur, 58, of Nelson, Lancashire, who self-defined his ethnicity as British Pakistani, has previously been charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16.
Trial expected to last up to 20 weeks
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, indicated that the case is expected to reach trial in January 2028.
Proceedings could last for up to 20 weeks because of the number of complainants, the historical nature of the allegations and the volume of evidence involved.
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe outlined the anticipated scale and complexity of proceedings during the hearing.
Operation Oak is investigating allegations made by eight women relating to a period spanning more than a decade.
